The EtherCalc Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about EtherCalc in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
EtherCalc
The Insider’s Guide
Web spreadsheet for real-time shared editing, no sign-up
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among spreadsheet and database tools, read from EtherCalc’s own pages.
Made by audreyt · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from EtherCalc’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on EtherCalc’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 38 of the 42 other spreadsheet and database tools we grade
EtherCalc is a web spreadsheet for real-time collaborative editing: open a page, share its URL and edit together. The project's GitHub README says it runs on Cloudflare or self-hosts with Docker, and documents a REST API.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about EtherCalc, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is free on its hosted site or on your own server, but anyone with a sheet's link can edit it, and it is a basic sheet.
- 1
Best for a spreadsheet you share by link with no sign-up
EtherCalc is a web spreadsheet where you open a page, send the link and edit together, with no account.
- 2
It is free
EtherCalc has no paid plan at all. No plans or prices are published; the hosted site describes itself as needing no sign-up and no install.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Shared editing by URL
Anyone with a sheet's address can edit at the same time as others, per the site title.
- 5
No account needed
The repository describes it as a web spreadsheet with no sign-up and no install.
- 6
REST API
A documented API creates and reads sheets over HTTP.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 38 of 42
That is against the other spreadsheet and database tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
EtherCalc is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
EtherCalc at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- audreyt
- Category
- Spreadsheets & Databases
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a spreadsheet you share by link with no sign-up
EtherCalc is a web spreadsheet where you open a page, send the link and edit together, with no account. It is free on its hosted site or on your own server, but anyone with a sheet's link can edit it, and it is a basic sheet.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free at ethercalc.net with no account, and free to self-host. Nobody charges for it, so it is free and substantial. |
| Free plan and trial | A | No plan and no cap on record: open a sheet and start. Self-hosting is optional. |
| Features | C | Shared editing by URL and a REST API. It is a basic shared sheet, and the listing shows no apps and nothing beyond the grid. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. Open a page and type; there is nothing to set up on the hosted site. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with a documented REST API and a Drupal link. No desktop or phone app is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who EtherCalc is for
- Fits if you need a quick shared sheet for a meeting without making accounts
- Works for developers who want to host a shared sheet on their own server
Who it is not for
- Not for you if the data is private, as anyone who knows a sheet's URL can read and write it unless a key is set
- Skip it if you want a full spreadsheet, since it is a basic shared grid
- Watch out: self-hosting on the internet needs a reverse proxy for TLS and rate limits
- Watch out: the docs list only Safari, Chrome and Firefox as tested, and there are no phone or desktop apps
Good to know
Good for
- Quick shared sheets without accounts
- Teams that want a self-hosted collaborative spreadsheet
Worth knowing
- Access is anonymous by design: anyone who knows a sheet's URL can read and write unless a key is configured.
- Internet-facing self-hosting needs a reverse proxy for TLS and rate limits, per the README.
- The documentation lists browsers tested as Safari, Chrome and Firefox only.
- It has no desktop or mobile apps.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
EtherCalc is free to use.
Free at ethercalc.net with no account, and free to self-host.
Free
$0
Hosted at ethercalc.net with no account, or self-hosted with Docker or npm.
The free plan
No plans or prices are published; the hosted site describes itself as needing no sign-up and no install.
Read from github.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Web spreadsheet for real-time shared editing, no sign-up. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: self-hostable, public API, real-time collaboration, spreadsheets.
It is a basic shared sheet, and the listing shows no apps and nothing beyond the grid.
- Shared editing by URL
- Anyone with a sheet's address can edit at the same time as others, per the site title.
- No account needed
- The repository describes it as a web spreadsheet with no sign-up and no install.
- REST API
- A documented API creates and reads sheets over HTTP.
- Self-hosting
- Runs with docker compose or an npm install, with no Cloudflare account required.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Drupal
EtherCalc is made by audreyt.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
38/42
Other spreadsheet and database tools it is graded above
EtherCalc's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 38 of the 42 other spreadsheet and database tools we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 35 of 42) and worst on features (C, above 3).
EtherCalc has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 spreadsheet and database tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. EtherCalc’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 34 of 42
- AFree plan and trialAbove 35 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 3 of 42
- BEase of useAbove 31 of 42
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 7 of 42
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 42 spreadsheet and database tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. EtherCalc is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
EtherCalc is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 38 of the 42 other spreadsheet and database tools we grade.
What you could not
- A spreadsheet engine with its formulas.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, Drupal among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. EtherCalc’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Google Sheets, Grist, LibreOffice Calc and Zoho Sheet
The 4 tools EtherCalc is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
Google Sheets
Free plan · from $7/mo
Browser-based spreadsheet, free with a Google Account.
- Only Google Sheets lists iOS and Android apps.
- EtherCalc is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Grist
Free plan · from $8/mo
Open-source relational spreadsheet with Python formulas.
- Only Grist lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Grist is open source, according to its own site.
- Grist also covers databases.
- 3.0GPA
LibreOffice Calc
Free
Free, open-source spreadsheet for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Only EtherCalc lists a web app.
- Only LibreOffice Calc lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- EtherCalc is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.6GPA
Zoho Sheet
Free plan · from $2.50/mo
Collaborative online spreadsheet with a free version.
- Only Zoho Sheet lists Windows, macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- EtherCalc is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Zoho Sheet also covers templates.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is EtherCalc free?
Yes. EtherCalc is free to use.
How much does EtherCalc cost?
EtherCalc lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does EtherCalc work on?
EtherCalc is available on Web.
Does EtherCalc have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. EtherCalc is listed for Web.
Does EtherCalc have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. EtherCalc is listed for Web.
Is EtherCalc open source?
EtherCalc is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Can EtherCalc be self-hosted?
Yes. EtherCalc's own site says it can be run on a server of your own.
Does EtherCalc have an API?
Yes. EtherCalc offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does EtherCalc integrate with?
EtherCalc's listing names Drupal. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes EtherCalc?
EtherCalc is made by audreyt.
What are the alternatives to EtherCalc?
The closest alternatives to EtherCalc in our directory are Google Sheets, Grist, LibreOffice Calc and Zoho Sheet.
How does EtherCalc compare with other spreadsheet and database tools?
EtherCalc's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 38 of the 42 other spreadsheet and database tools we grade, and level with 1.
Is EtherCalc good value for money?
ToolGPA grades EtherCalc A for value for money. EtherCalc has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of EtherCalc?
EtherCalc is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from EtherCalc’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from EtherCalc's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by audreyt. Prices change, so check ethercalc.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- EtherCalc, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ethercalc
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "EtherCalc: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ethercalc
Know someone choosing between spreadsheet and database tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ethercalc/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded spreadsheet and database tools after EtherCalc, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Spreadsheets & Databases Insider's GuideEvery one of the 43 spreadsheet and database tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Sheet Insider's GuideCollaborative online spreadsheet with a free version3.6 GPA
- Google Sheets Insider's GuideBrowser-based spreadsheet, free with a Google Account3.4 GPA
- Microsoft Excel Insider's GuideSpreadsheet app sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what EtherCalc’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. EtherCalc is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by audreyt. Prices and plans change: check ethercalc.net before you buy.